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July 30, 2008
Metro's Twitter Proves Usefulness After Earthquake
Photo by Simon Shek via Flickr
After yesterday's earthquake, Metro did something unusual for them. They informed the public in real time what was going on with the rail system.
Metro's Twitter account, usually used for stating facts and promoting their services, was quickly put to work. "Bus and Rail Operations report no effects from the earthquake on Metro services. But trains operating at restricted speeds," they tweeted.
Later on, an update: "After earthquake train speeds scheduled to increase by 15 mph every half hour beginning at 1:30 p.m. Normal speeds expected by rush hour." And then another update: "Speeds now up to 45 mph on all rail."
And lastly: "All's well. Normal rail operations have resumed."
A similar type of update from June 5 represents their first-ever tweet on the account: "Due to a major downtown fire this morning, Metro Bus Lines 33, 10, 92, 55 on Main Street detoured to Broadway between 8th and Olympic."
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Well, good for them. Now if they could get their Metro Trip planner to work that would actually prove usefull...
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Seconded.
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What is it about TripPlanner that doesn't work for you?
I agree, it could be better, and EVERYTHING would be more efficient if all of the busses/trains were tracked live with GPS. That said, I don't have too many qualms about TripPlanner or NexTrip when it comes to pulling up routes (based on *scheduled* times).
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I live next to the Orange Line. To get to my job in Northridge, I take the Orange Line & Metro Rapid. it's a 35 minute ride. TripPlanner suggests I take 2 other buses, neither of which are express, and never lists the Orange Line, which is in earshot of my house.
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Eartquake.